I'm pretty sure I've said this before but....

I LOVE FALL.  Fall and winter are my favorite seasons of the year.  Technically the 22nd is the real start of fall, I can't stand coffee products even if they are pumpkin spice and from a nice coffee shop, and the temperature seems determined to stay in the 90's.  Even though all of those things are true, I still can feel fall coming.

It feels like fall because this is the view I have through the window above the sink as I wash dishes.

And I made a double batch of homemade no bake cookies last night.



Do cookies somehow become healthy if you use fruits and veggies to hold down the edge of your wax paper?

The random cool mornings over the last week and a half assure me that summer will soon be gone and I will start preparations for family camp outs, Christmas shopping, and switching our outside play time from early mornings to mid-day.  Soon the walks we take will be punctuated with the sound of crunching leaves under our feet, and the trees will turn from green to yellow, orange, red and brown.

This fall is going to be amazing indeed.

Yikes!

It has been too long.  Since the last time I have published a blog post I have started three posts.  One of them was about how Dravyn was sick off and on for three weeks, one about how it had been two weeks since I posted anything, and a third about the top 5 things I think about when I look at my family.  I think I will finish that one eventually.  I also started one but didn't actually write anything, so it is just listed there blank, and I finished one.  I am debating with myself about hitting the publish button on that one.

Right now life is stressful.  It isn't sunny everyday, every cloud has a silver lining, and things will get better, at least that is what people always say.  I think they lie.

In reality I know things aren't that bad, I know that they could be worse, and that at least things will change.  Better or worse who knows, but I like change, it at least means there is a possibility of better times.  I also know that I sound like a baby, I promise that I will snap out of it, but sometimes you just have to get it out you know?

Anyway tonight I was thinking about cleaning.  On that subject lets just say the skills and habits necessary for keeping a clean and organized household is not something that was instilled in me as a child, or something I come about naturally.  I think cleaning is a big cosmic practical joke.  You clean and then dust falls, dirt and grass gets tracked in, the dogs roll in something before coming in, or you have a kid.  And don't even get me started on laundry, talk about a chore that can never be done.  You are always wearing clothes that are going to need to be washed, so even if everything works out perfectly and every other item of clothing, all the towels, and bedding are clean, you still aren't done.  It's enough to bring someone to tears.

Last weekend we went to stay with my aunt for a few nights, see some family we don't often get to see, go to a Thirty-One meeting, and just get some away time.   It was a nice time, but I can't wait until this weekend when we finally have nothing planned, and hopefully none of us will be sick.  I need a nice relaxing weekend.

 

Maybe my next post will come in less than a month.

My very beautiful 2 year old.

The 9th was Dravyn's birthday but we celebrated the 6th.  She had some people come to celebrate with her, including my cousin who's birthday really is the 6th.  It was a great day with pizza cake and a big surprise for the birthday girl.

 

She got a little people barn and has been carrying it around the house playing with it everywhere and after the initial scare over it making noise, now she is loving the sounds it makes and the animals.

 

Her big gift was from her grandparents, my grandparents, and her father and me.  She loves it and has been wanting to go play at her "park" all week.

 

 

Her actual birthday was really laid back, we played outside in the morning, and went about our usual schedule.  She did con her grandparents into taking her to McDonalds to get fries and a cookie, and to go to Wal-Mart where she got a new outfit and some hair clips.  The night finished with a jello fish bowl just for her and some two year pictures.

 

 

She has gotten so big over the last couple of years and I can't wait to see how much more she will be able to do next year.

 

 

4th of July

Dravyn's second 4th of July went really well.  She loves stomping on snappers, and helping her daddy light smoke bombs.  She also rode a tricycle for the first time, she didn't really "get" it, only pushing it correctly about half a rotation but she had fun!  It was a great day even though we spent most of the day building her birthday surprise in the backyard.

 

 

 

Stomp Stomp Stomp

What I got when I asked for a smile.

A super happy girl!

 

I hope you had a happy Independence Day.

The one with boom and falls.

So... I am pretty much frustrated with everything lately.  I think it has something to do with not having a good nights sleep in the last month. Well, that and other things, but for now we will leave it at that.

Dravyn has learned that fireworks go "Boom!" and then fall, and she loves them so much.  Therefore I have decided to fill the rest of this blog post with "fire booms".

Meal planning is a plot against sanity. - Me

That's right I said it.  I hate meal planning.  I love food, well some food, I am not a big fan of many vegetables once you get past the typical corn, green beans, carrots (only if they are cooked), and broccoli. 

A goal in my life is to eventually make a pretty cook book with recipes and pictures of our families favorite meals.  Another goal in life is to be able to sit down and plan meals for two weeks, along with a shopping list for the trip and have it take less than 4 hours.  Currently that not only takes me about 4 hours but it has to be spread out between two days because I get so frustrated about cooking the same things over and over again that I just get up and walk off.  I think maybe I should work on the second goal first.

I took a cooking class in high school and they had someone from a culinary academy come in and let us plate food.  I was mesmerized at the little bottles to drizzle various substances over the dessert we had on solid white plates in front of us, and was amazed at how the little touches really made the food look so much more tasty. Maybe one day I will accomplish making a balanced meal with bold colors and enough pizazz to land a photo of it on the cover of a cooking magazine.  But tonight I must continue my attempts to finish my meal plan and grocery list.  Wish me luck.

 

 



P.S. - The Parmesan crusted chicken variety of Chicken Helper is like a master chef level compared to the normal effort put forth for a boxed meal.  Just so you know.